Pondering possible outcomes of MacFarlane's turn at Oscars

Sunday

Feb 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM

How will MacFarlane fare? From a rundown of what we know about this year's show, we offer the following best- and worst-case scenarios.

GLENN WHIPPLOS ANGELES TIMES

LOS ANGELES — Seth MacFarlane has compared hosting the Oscars to President Obama's first term. By trying to please everyone, this year's Oscar emcee says, you end up pleasing no one. How will MacFarlane fare? From a rundown of what we know about this year's show, we offer the following best- and worst-case scenarios:

OPENING MONOLOGUE

Best-case scenario: MacFarlane successfully negotiates a tricky tonal middle ground between snark and respect, delivering a broadly appealing sense of irreverence that includes him singing a genuinely funny parody of "Les Miserables." Worst-case scenario: Remember that Emmy mailer last year for MacFarlane's animated TV show "Family Guy"? The one that appealed to voters by saying, "Come on, you bloated, overprivileged Brentwood Jews, let us into your little club"? We get 10 minutes of that kind of tone-deaf, insider humor, culminating with a cameo from Stewie.

SHOW IS BROKEN UP INTO 13 ACTS, EACH POSSESSING WHAT PRODUCERS CALL A "WOW MOMENT"

SPECIAL SALUTE TO JAMES BOND MOVIES, CELEBRATING THE SERIES' 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Best case: The six men who have played 007 — Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig — share the stage. Worst case: Only Lazenby shows.

BARBRA STREISAND SINGS!

Best case: She performs a moving tribute to her friend and frequent collaborator, composer Marvin Hamlisch. When she finishes, there's not a dry eye in the house. Worst case: It's not a tribute to Hamlisch. It's a duet with . . . MacFarlane.

ADELE PERFORMS "SKYFALL"

Best case: It's just her and the piano. No needless distractions. No Bond girls shimmying in the background. Worst case: It's just her and the piano — with Lazenby sprawled across the top of it.

MARK WAHLBERG REUNITES WITH THE ANIMATED BEAR FROM "TED" TO PRESENT AN AWARD

Best case: The movie's R-rated comic sensibility is toned down enough to translate to the broadcast's PG-13 standards. Worst case: Thanks to network censors, we won't be able to hear half their routine.